Polo in the Cotswolds

Today we took a trip into the Cotswolds, west of Oxford.  The prospect of enjoying a traditional English sport sounded appealing, so we decided to spectate a polo match!  We went to the Cirencester Park Polo Club, which was founded in 1894.  We saw two ladies' matches.  The weather was perfect, and we had a fun picnic.  The kids really enjoyed seeing the horses and also stomping down the trod-up clumps of turf on the field between quarters.  It was a very relaxing and enjoyable event for all.

Racing out to stomp down the turf

Another Happy Birthday!

We celebrated D's birthday on Friday and Saturday.... Friday we went out to eat at the Crown and Thistle in Abingdon.  There is an inn, restaurant and pub at the Crown and Thistle, and it's where D stayed in February when he was scoping out this trip.  The pub's 12 hour pork belly roast was a fond memory from that trip, and he wanted to relive it :)

We had a quiet morning on Saturday, then spent the afternoon and evening with friends from the science center.  We had a good cake to share with them, and the kids really enjoyed the play date!

Sunny day in Abingdon

Our weather has turned cool and somewhat dreary - probably more typical of the England climate than what we were lucky to experience during our first month here.  So when the sun came out on Tuesday, we were pretty excited!

The kids and I spent the day at the Abingdon splash pad and playground.  We enjoyed afternoon tea (which for the kids translates to afternoon ice cream) in Abingdon Town Square.  Then D met us after work and we returned to Nag's Head for dinner on the Thames.  This is the only pub we've gone to twice now - it's a definite winner in good weather!

Then we strolled along the Thames Path and enjoyed the golden glow of the evening sun.

Our first Oxford visitor

My brother came to visit us on Friday and Saturday, after finishing a business trip in Germany.  We were happy to have him as our first official guest in Oxford!

We enjoyed a scenic drive from Heathrow and arrived at our house in time for a trip to the pub.  We chose The Crown, a centuries-old establishment in city centre.  We enjoyed some tasty ales and pub food, then took the bus back home.

Saturday morning's weather was bright and clear, so we headed back into town for a punt.  The kids had been quite excited about taking their uncle punting.  This time we tried out the Magdalen Bridge Boat House at the end of the High Street.  We journeyed along the River Cherwell all the way to the Thames and back!  As always, thank you to D for his excellent punting skills.

The day turned rainy after that, so we spent the rest of the day relaxing at home.  Thank you Uncle R for coming to visit!!

En route to Oxford

Pretty street scene in Henley-on-Thames

Cornmarket, Oxford City Centre

Enjoying the view from the top of the bus

Christ Church College tower in the distance

Punting under Magdalen Bridge

Magdalen Tower and Bridge

Lunch at the High Street Cafe after our punt

Saturday dinner at home

Dinner with a hometown friend

After seeing Thrift Farm, we drove into Milton Keynes and met a neighbor from our street in the U.S. who was in town on business.  It was so much fun to see a familiar face and catch up!  We enjoyed dinner at a quaint thatched-roofed, timber-beamed pub.

Thrift Farm near Bletchley Park

On Wednesday we drove north to Bletchley and Milton Keynes.  While we didn't make it to the museums of Bletchley Park, I was sure to explain to the kids about the town's importance during WWII.  Indeed the signs for the town read: "Welcome to Bletchley, Home of the Codebreakers."

We stopped instead at the perhaps more kid-friendly Thrift Farm.  We enjoyed seeing many types of animals.  Watching the tiny piglets was really sweet and fun!  We also enjoyed the rooster who ran up and down his pen alongside the kids.  Roosters are fast!

Running with the rooster

Newborns!  They arrived just a few hours before our visit

One-week-old piggies - with their Mum, Parsnip

Highclere Castle

Tuesday's weather was beautiful, so the kids and I drove about 40 minutes in the countryside and arrived at....

The Land of Downton Abbey!

It was quite fun, somewhat like a pilgrimage with our compatriot Downton fans.  We walked through the manor house (where photography was sadly but understandably not allowed) and saw all the classic spaces from the show:  the library, dining room, grand staircase, "Lady Cora's" bedroom, etc.  It was exciting to stand where the actors and actresses had stood.

The grounds were the most impressive portion of the tour, however.  Seeing the grand house rise above the hill as we approached was my favorite part.  (The histrionic theme song immediately popped into my head.)  We also strolled - well, the kids ran - through the fancy formal gardens, and a large wildflower field.

As an ardent Downton fan, I'm glad to have seen the location in person.  Now the kids want to watch the show, too!

In the wildflower field

Hydrangeas in the Secret Garden